Previously a smart handicapper for Mick Appleby, Aphelios has made quite the early impact in his new base Sweden. Having won his debut for trainer Annike Bye Hansen, he took the step up to black-type company in his stride at Bro Park on Sunday to win the Listed Bloomer's Vase over 6f and push his sire Kodiac closer to the 100th stakes winner mark.
“I’m impressed with him,” said Annike Bye Hansen. “He is entered in the Listed Zawawi Cup at Jägersro on Swedish Derby Day. That’s the plan.”
Bred by Kingwood Stud, Aphelios won five times in Britain before being bought by Walter Buick at last year’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
He is a half-brother to Group 2 winner Land Of Legends and out of the Singspiel mare Homily.
His win continued a good spell for Kodiac, whose three-year-old daughter Star Of Mystery ran third in Saturday's Grade 1 Jaipur Stakes against older horses at Saratoga. Another filly, two-year-old, Korisa, was also Listed-placed at Milan in Italy on Sunday.
Kodiac also featured as the damsire of Achilles Stakes winner Believing (by Mehmas) and Oaks d'Italia runner-up Sun Never Sets (by Karakontie).
